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Clinical & Experimental Optometry Jul 2019Schizophrenia, a neurodevelopmental mental disorder with heterogeneous features, poses major social and health-care challenges in Australia and worldwide. Ophthalmic... (Review)
Review
Schizophrenia, a neurodevelopmental mental disorder with heterogeneous features, poses major social and health-care challenges in Australia and worldwide. Ophthalmic findings in patients with schizophrenia are varied and include conditions that result from psychotropic complications such as sun gazing, heritable genetic endophenotypes such as oculomotor abnormalities and strabismus, treatment-related complications such as chlorpromazine lenticular and corneal deposits, and co-morbid health problems such as poor compliance. This report reviews special considerations for eye care in schizophrenia and provides case examples to illustrate the complexity of problems that optometrists may encounter with this population.
Topics: Delivery of Health Care; Eye Diseases; Humans; Optometrists; Schizophrenia
PubMed: 30136297
DOI: 10.1111/cxo.12826 -
Scientific Reports May 2023According to World Health Organization (WHO), currently, 2.2 billion people are living with visual impairment worldwide, of which almost half could have been prevented....
According to World Health Organization (WHO), currently, 2.2 billion people are living with visual impairment worldwide, of which almost half could have been prevented. There are both modifiable and unmodifiable factors leading to visual disability and, ultimately, blindness. Several population-based studies in different parts of Iran have tried to determine these factors concerning their specific population and environment-related characteristics. AZAR Eye and Vision cohort is the second-largest cohort study in the whole country. AZAR Eye and Vision cohort is the ophthalmologic branch of AZAR cohort which is the largest eye cohort study in the country, which is trying to determine the prevalence and incidence of visual impairment, blindness, and other major ophthalmologic conditions and their associated risk factors in East Azerbaijan province located in Iran, a middle eastern country. A recently emerging phenomenon is the drying of the ultra-salty lake of Urmia located in the West Azerbaijan province which is a direct neighbor of our studied population and has caused recurrent salt storms in the immediate near areas. This phenomenon could adversely affect visual health via different conditions which our study will elucidate. The enrollment phase took place between 2014 and 2017 and 11,208 participants were enrolled out of 15,000 participants in the primary cohort. The resurvey phase will begin five years after the enrollment phase. In this phase, 30% of the participants are randomly selected to be reexamined and complete questionnaires. The participants showing any issues such as diabetes and being a glaucoma suspect will be included in the resurvey phase, too. Data categories gathered include demographics, lifestyle factors, past medical and drug histories, and a diet quality and quantity questionnaire including 130 edible items. Urine, hair, nail, and 25-ml blood samples, were collected from the participants. Then they were referred to an optometrist to complete an ophthalmologic questionnaire and undergo eye examination and lensometry. Then they underwent slit-lamp examinations and pictures were taken of the lens and fundus. People with suspected visual impairment were referred to an ophthalmology clinic. The data are processed and a four-level quality check is performed on each block. The most common visual impairment is cataracts. This study's most important aim is to evaluate the effect of local environmental and ethnic factors on eye diseases in this specific population.
Topics: Humans; Visually Impaired Persons; Cohort Studies; Visual Acuity; Blindness; Vision, Low; Eye Diseases; Ocular Hypertension; Prevalence; Vision Disorders
PubMed: 37198199
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30212-y -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022This review discusses the current practices, attitudes, and trends in diagnosing and managing keratoconus (KC) in adults and children by optometrists and... (Review)
Review
This review discusses the current practices, attitudes, and trends in diagnosing and managing keratoconus (KC) in adults and children by optometrists and ophthalmologists in order to highlight the differences on a global scale. Two independent reviewers searched the electronic databases and grey literature for all potential articles published from 1 January 2000 to 1 June 2022 on management of KC. Keywords used in searches included "keratoconus", "diagnosis", "management", "treatment", "attitude", "practices", "opinion", "optometrist", "ophthalmologist", "consensus", and "protocol". A total of 19 articles was included in this review-12 from the database search and seven from the grey literature. Although a common stepwise approach of non-surgical management was noted, there were differences in the rates of prescribing rigid gas permeable lenses. Furthermore, while clinicians agreed on the need for early diagnosis, the timeline and type of referral varied significantly. A similar discordance was found in the milestones for surgical intervention and preferred surgical techniques. Practice patterns in keratoconus diagnosis and management vary throughout the world. Multiple recommendations and suggestions to minimise the differences have been provided in the literature, with the main themes being improvement in education, interdisciplinary patient care, and further research to reach consensus.
PubMed: 36553416
DOI: 10.3390/children9121973 -
Ophthalmology and Therapy Feb 2022There are close to two billion individuals globally living with presbyopia. In spite of its ubiquitous and progressive nature, there is no widely accepted, formal...
There are close to two billion individuals globally living with presbyopia. In spite of its ubiquitous and progressive nature, there is no widely accepted, formal guideline or consensus statement on the classification of presbyopia by degree of severity. A panel of leading eye care professionals representing both optometrists and ophthalmologists convened virtually to discuss and document their combined assessments from the body of literature and clinical practice expertise in this commentary. In light of emerging therapies, classifying presbyopia by mild, moderate, or advanced severity may help provide consistency of diagnosis among eye care providers and may aid in managing patient expectations with different treatment options.
PubMed: 34709607
DOI: 10.1007/s40123-021-00410-w -
Clinical & Experimental Optometry Sep 2020Mucocele of the paranasal sinuses is a slowly expanding benign lesion developing when there is impeded physiological drainage of the mucous produced by the epithelial... (Review)
Review
Mucocele of the paranasal sinuses is a slowly expanding benign lesion developing when there is impeded physiological drainage of the mucous produced by the epithelial lining of the paranasal sinuses, at the sinus ostium, which is an opening that connects the sinus to the nasal cavity. Aetiologies of ostial occlusion include infection, allergy, trauma, previous surgery, benign neoplasm (osteoma or fibrous dysplasia), and malignant or metastatic tumours. Mucoceles commonly develop in the frontal sinus (70-80 per cent), followed by the ethmoid (25 per cent), frontoethmoidal (10-14 per cent), and maxillary (three per cent or less) sinuses. The most common manifestations in these cases are ocular oedema, proptosis (22-83 per cent), and diplopia (28 per cent). Due to these ocular signs and symptoms, the optometrist may be first in line managing paranasal sinus disease patients, reducing the risk of permanent damage. A case report and review of frontoethmoidal mucocele will be discussed in this report, to include the role of the optometrist in its management and treatment.
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Diplopia; Ethmoid Sinus; Frontal Sinus; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Mucocele; Paranasal Sinus Diseases; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 31773805
DOI: 10.1111/cxo.13006 -
Clinical & Experimental Optometry Mar 2022Healthcare in the twenty-first century has witnessed an increased use of prescription drugs. As a member of a patient's health care team, optometrists should be aware of... (Review)
Review
Healthcare in the twenty-first century has witnessed an increased use of prescription drugs. As a member of a patient's health care team, optometrists should be aware of the pharmaceuticals taken by patients and their potential ocular complications. This paper will discuss the most prescribed medications in Australia today and their effects on the visual system. The paper will review the agents used to treat six common systemic conditions, their frequency of use, mechanism of action, clinical indications, and potential ocular manifestations. Literature has documented both positive and negative associations of systemic medications on the eye's health. Many associations documented here have shown conflicting evidence, thus warranting further investigation. Based on the frequency and severity of the ocular manifestations in the literature, recommendations for clinical care are given. Being familiar with the most common ocular side effects associated with common systemic medications aids in the correct and timely diagnosis of ocular complications to prevent permanent sequelae.
Topics: Australia; Eye Diseases; Humans; Optometrists; Optometry; Pharmaceutical Preparations
PubMed: 34407728
DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2021.1945409 -
Clinical & Experimental Optometry Jan 2022Optometry education in Nepal began in 1998 in collaboration with the University of Auckland, New Zealand, with the primary objective of addressing the unmet needs of eye...
Optometry education in Nepal began in 1998 in collaboration with the University of Auckland, New Zealand, with the primary objective of addressing the unmet needs of eye health and vision care. Over the last two decades, the development of optometry education has seen significant progress, including a shift from a three-year to a four-year curriculum, an increase in the uptake of students, and recent launches of two additional bachelor's degree and a master's degree programmes. Complementary to the educational progress, several professional advances have occurred in the intervening years. These include the formation of the Nepalese Association of Optometrists that oversees the professional development and the rights, welfare, security, and protection of Optometrists, memberships into the World Council of optometry and the Asia Pacific Council of optometry, integration of the profession into the governmental regulatory body Nepal Health Professional Council, and formulation of the code of ethics and minimum requirements for a Bachelor's level University degree in optometry. This article briefly presents the historical events leading to the establishment of optometry in Nepal and the evolution of the program in the intervening years.
Topics: Health Personnel; Humans; Nepal; Optometrists; Optometry; Universities
PubMed: 33926367
DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2021.1916388 -
Clinical & Experimental Optometry May 2022Optometrists upskilling and participating in enhanced optometric schemes has the potential to improve service accessibility and alleviate pressure on hospital eye...
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Optometrists upskilling and participating in enhanced optometric schemes has the potential to improve service accessibility and alleviate pressure on hospital eye services.
BACKGROUND
There is a growing demand for eye care in the UK with rising hospital attendances thought to be due in part to an ageing population and a shift in behaviour to favour emergency secondary care.
METHODS
Records of first-time presentations to the eye casualty department at the County Hospital (Wye Valley NHS Trust), Hereford, UK, over a month were analysed retrospectively and sequentially. The proportion of patients from optometrist referrals with conditions potentially requiring pharmacological intervention, that could have been retained within community optometry by an independent prescriber, was assessed. For general practitioner and self-referrals, the reasons for visit were compared to the Minor Eye Conditions Service criteria for inclusion. Patient conditions reviewed at the hospital following their initial presentation were grouped according to those who could have been discharged to a commissioned optometric service.
RESULTS
The records of 421 patients were organised by the source of referral and condition diagnosed by the hospital practitioner. Thirty-three percent of optometrist referrals could have been managed by an independent prescribing optometrist. Ninety-two percent of patients presenting from general practitioner referrals and 83 percent of self-referrals could have been assessed via the local optometric scheme. Sixty-six percent of patients attending hospital for follow-up could have been seen within the community.
CONCLUSION
The present analysis highlights the value of commissioned local optometric community services to address acute ocular symptoms and the value of an independent prescribing qualification in helping to further alleviate the burden on hospital emergency eye services. The large number of self-referrals suggests that the general public needs to be further educated on services that are available at a community optometry level.
Topics: Humans; Optometrists; Optometry; Referral and Consultation; Retrospective Studies; United Kingdom
PubMed: 34315329
DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2021.1937949